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Dallas is one of many US cities in the running to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, according to representatives of the United States Olympic Committee. (Published Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013)

Dallas is one of a handful of United States cities in the running to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, according to representatives of the United States Olympic Committee.

A small group from the USOC has been visiting potential host cities, including Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, according to an Associated Press report.

When compared to the other cities that are potentially being considered, the man leading the charge for Big D to be the host likes Dallas' chances.

"I'll go you one better - Dallas looks better than most," said Matt Wood, a Dallas attorney who estimated he spends between 50 to 100 hours a week on how to better position Dallas for an Olympics bid.

Wood points to world-class athletic facilities already in place like AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and the American Airlines Center and the Cotton Bowl in Dallas as evidence of the Dallas-Fort Worth area's ability to host several events.

Wood also stresses that Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, an already-expanding Dallas Love Field and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system - the largest light rail system in the country - are key elements to proving Dallas can get people in and get them to where they're going.

"Those are all elements that a host city has to have. And they don't really, those are not something you build [just to host the Olympics]," Wood told NBC DFW. "[For example] they're not looking for cities that don't have 40,000 hotel rooms. If you've only got 25,000 you don't need to build 15 or 20,000 hotel rooms just for a three week experience. So they look for places that already have the things that are not going to become white elephants."

If Wood and his backers were to have their way, the Olympic Village - what becomes the temporary home for the Olympic athletes - would be built at Fair Park, which would then help to spur on development in Dallas' southern sector.

Fair Park, the potential completion of the Trinity River project - which has languished for years - and the proximity to Downtown Dallas are also key assets to making the city a proper host, according to Wood.

The USOC will select which, if any, American city will be recommended for a hosting bid in 2014.

The International Olympic Committee will make its 2024 host announcement in 2017.